If you are reading this and you have not seen "Not Qualified" click here and watch it before reading the post below!

To be completely honest, the thought of creating this video terrified me. I knew that my intentions were pure, but I also knew it would run the risk of sounding like a prideful, combative comeback from a Christian artist who can’t handle criticism. Let me just start by saying, that is not the intention of these words, and I pray that no one will view it that light. If I could, allow me to tell the story surrounding “Not Qualified” so that we might discover the heart behind the words. After releasing the two part “Who You Are” series, I received some negative resistance from many different sources. Some from people who didn’t know me at all, some from people who knew me only in a very dark time of my life, and some even from my closest of friends. Through all the resistance though, one statement stuck out in my heart the most. This is the statement the video opens with, “Not Qualified”. Upon receiving that specific Facebook message, my heart dropped into the pit of my stomach. I couldn’t stop shaking. I felt as if I might be sick or fall over. And it’s because they were right. To tell you the honest truth, I am probably the last person who should be telling young women how worthy of love they are, not to mention telling young men how they should be living a purposeful, driven life. Because several seasons in my life have been spent living in the exact opposite worldview, causing many people around me to be left broken and hurting. How could I be surprised when people from my past thought I looked like an absolute hypocrite? So at first, I admit, I was crushed. I thought, “well, it’s true, I should probably take them down.” But then I realized something… What if “not qualified” is the perfect place from which to begin working for God? I could either let the words of this message burst my precious “Christian ego”, or I could hear the sobering yet inspiring and hopeful news God was trying to tell me through the message. As I prayed, I did some backtracking and realized that God had been preparing me to hear this news all week long. I received the message on a Friday. Earlier that week I was on a long drive in my car listening to a sermon by a woman named Christine Cain. Christine’s story is out of this world. I’ll explain a lot about the sermon here, but it is still worth listening to. (the link is posted here) Christine is part of the leadership team for the A21 campaign against human trafficking. As a victim of sexual abuse when she was a child, Christine is wildly passionate about bringing traffickers to justice and setting girls free. As if this wasn’t amazing enough, throughout the sermon Christine details several other defining moments in her life. Like her struggles as a Greek woman in Australia to receive quality education and career opportunities, or when she was thirty-three years old and discovered that she was adopted. I told you her story was out of this world. Christine goes on to show the congregation three documents that she received along her life’s journey. One from the hospital, telling her she was “unnamed”, another from the government that tells her she was “not wanted” by her birth parents, and a final one from a university social worker telling her she was, you guessed it, “not qualified” for the type of work she’d been training for. I probably wouldn’t have made this connection later on in the week when I received the Facebook message, except for the fact that for some reason, Christine’s sermon spoke to me in such a profound way, more than any sermon had in years. Why did it speak to my spirit so powerfully, because I believe God was preparing me. He was preparing me to hear the words, “Jon, you are not qualified.” He was giving me the wisdom and encouragement I needed to hear what HE was telling me through the words in that message, and that’s not only that I’m not qualified, but that’s exactly why God chose me to make these videos in the first place. In the Bible when God calls, the one who is called is hardly ever qualified for the mission. But we rarely think about the heroes of the Bible being unqualified, because we don’t think much about who Moses the murderer was before he became Moses the leader, or who David the shepherd boy was before he became David the King. But if we dive into these character’s pasts we begin to see they are just as broken as we are, and yet God used them in unimaginable ways. There are missions that certain people have no business being a part of because of past mistakes, or limitations. And more often than not, those are exactly the people God chooses, and for two reasons. One, because when the unqualified person completes the mission they cannot take any of the glory for themselves, but they are forced to point straight to God. And two, because it reveals something powerful about the love of God, that it is utterly and completely redemptive. My absolute favorite line that Christine has is when she talks about how what Satan intended for evil in her life, with her being abused, God intended for good, cause now she leads the largest campaign against sexual abuse and trafficking in the world. She looks Satan right in the face and says, “Devil, I bet you wish you’d left me alone!” “Not Qualified” is not a prideful, combative slap to the face, it is a call to each and every person with a broken past. It is a call to remember that the love of God is beautifully redemptive. And that what Satan intended for evil in your life, God has intended it for the good, and for it to bring about a more hopeful future. When we begin to live in that redemptive love, we too can stare Satan right in the eye and say, “I bet you wish you’d left me alone. Punk.”

Jon my name is brook and I'm glad u did not remove your "who you are" video because I would never had of seen the one for women and it changed my life and made me a completely different person!!You are AMAZING !
Thank you
- Brook

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Tami

10/1/2013 10:44:50 am

Jon, I want to encourage you to never stop sharing the Message of Who we are IN CHRIST. There is not one of us, on our own, who "qualify". It's the BLOOD OF JESUS THAT QUALIFIES EVERY ONE OF US!!! Thank you Jesus! And it blesses me so much to see that the youth are rising up and standing strong, in spite of the nay sayers and negative comments. Trust me - there will always be opposition when you move into all God has for you. Jesus experienced the same thing. STAND STRONG, STAY CLOSE TO JESUS AND ....ROCK ON BROTHER!

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krystal scott

10/3/2013 02:38:07 pm

PLEASE DO NOT EVER LET THE COMMENTS OF OTHERS DRAG YOU DOWN! ALWAYS FOLLOW THE PATH GOD IS LEADING YOU DOWN. AND LIKE THE PERSON ABOVE SAID. PLEASE KEEP SPEAKING PLEASE! GOD IS USING YOU IN TREMENDOUS WAYS! YOUR ARE DEFINITELY QUALIFIED!

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Sherry

10/9/2013 02:17:51 pm

I absolutely cherish the videos you have made. I have shown my 14yr old daughter the who you are video for girls and continue to encourage her with the fact that God has a destiny for her and what the world considers "normal" is not part of it. We are in this world and not of it. I thank you for such an awesome video as who you are because it has opened up the conversation between her and I. I also thank you for the video for my own benefit. At a time when it seems everything is falling apart I'm able to watch the video and become encouraged and continue my course regardless of what is going on in the natural. I thank you Jon for not allowing others to detour you on your calling. God Bless You!

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Nina

10/16/2013 09:36:30 pm

Hello Jon,
I'm more than glad that I took time off my afternoon and watched the 'who you are' video yet again, joined the Facebook page and then see the 'not qualified' post and your story behind it. You're right, none of us are qualified in anything for that matter, we probably just follow the 'we know it all' routine.
You were meant to do this, go ahead and do what your heart seeks-it's coming from Him. You don't need the world's approval to do something the Creator had asked of you. Just do it, if not all - there are atleast a few people that counts on you. I am happy to say, I'm one of 'em.
P.S - don't worry about your past. There's a reason why it is called the 'past', it struck you once and it is gone and that's why you're always ahead and it's behind you for the rest of your life.

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Brittany

10/23/2013 01:38:50 pm

There's a sincerity to your words that speaks straight to the hearts of those who understand their brokenness. You have a transparent, earnest, genuine way of sharing your heart. The statements made by others would not hurt if you were being insincere. It is commendable, the way you bravely share the truth despite its many thorns. It is difficult to lay yourself out to others so honestly. And if I am being honest myself, I question whether I would have such resolve as to sacrifice my personal sense of equilibrium to share a vital message with the world. Perhaps it exposes my own cowardice to see the way God shines through you. Maybe that is the cause for the backlash you have received. It is painful to open your eyes after the lights flicked on if you have become accustomed to your dark room. Please, be encouraged. People only rail against the truth.

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lisa

10/24/2013 03:01:45 pm

..Jon, i never do anything like this.. but i have been pulled to watch your vidéos .i cried for those lost,for the ones like myself WHO Needed to be remined of God,s get love..and for you dear boy What à Blessing you are .there are NO qualification to be à vessel for the Lord or to tell others about his love..God bless

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Carlos A Rodriguez

10/29/2013 03:44:23 pm

Thank you! Your message for both men and women, and then this message you give about how it is sometimes the broken who God chooses to do his work truly resonates with me. You are doing a fantastic job, and I want you to know that. Thank you, Much Love, your brother CR.

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Kris Cannon

11/1/2013 07:42:30 am

Right on! Love Christine Caine. None of us are "qualified"! Jesus couldn't heal or teach in his own town either lol keep your prayer warriors close and accountability. Satan is the great discourager. Jerk. Check out Father of Lights by Wanderlust Productions. Heidi Baker will rock your world too. Keep keeping it REAL!!!!

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Christina

11/3/2013 02:16:47 pm

Jon,

God changed my life in the very ways that you speak of through your videos and your poems. I watch, "Who You Are" sometimes before bed. You and the message that God is sending through you helps put me at peace. Thank you! We all have dark times in our lives. God forgives and loves us all for that is what his only son sacrificed his human life for, us.

Please continue to encourage and empower us with His word. You are awesome, Jon.

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Mary-Kate Shoemaker

11/11/2013 01:19:13 pm

Thank you people tell me this all the time and I know its true but I let it get me down and drag me away from God. Thank you for helping me find my way back with you videos. Please pleasnplease keep posting more :)

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Gio Bell

11/18/2013 08:06:16 am

Always nice to hear how God changes life and uses anything and anyone for His greater purpose. Let His glory shine! Thanks for
Sharing!

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Russell Schinck

3/14/2014 08:09:06 am

I don't know who would have the pride or self love to be able to look past the log in their own eye to pluck the mote from yours, but keep serving and preaching!

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Anonymous Girl

4/18/2014 01:14:56 pm

Jon,

I am truly inspired by your videos.
I feel at times I am in a dark place but your videos bring me to peace in my darkness. I know many here try to put you on a pedestal but I honestly like you at my level, young and human. "Not qualified" just shows that even the young and reckless can redeem themselves and God can still do work through us.

Thank you,

ag

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Angela

4/19/2014 04:30:11 am

Dear Jon,
God recently led me to your channel on YouTube. I just want to say that you are a truly blessed SON of God. You are highly favored and I truly believe that The Anima Series is going to grow into a global series. You guys are seriously changing lives and in the perfect way. Through your talent that God gave you! I appreciate your channel and what you do.
From a fellow Non-Qualified Christian, Angela

You are incredible. There is unfortunately criticism to those that have been chosen. There is isolation in being chosen. But you have definitely been called. I remember the first time I saw your video. I needed to know that I was valued and loved beyond measure. And you reminded me of that. For that I am grateful. Don't you dare stop. For every one that come up against you, there are thousand for you. No weapon formed against you will prosper. You know in Whom you have trusted. God doesn't call us to who we were or what we have done but for what He has intended for our lives and what we can achieve through Him.

I believe that God is merciful and is using you in an incredible way to demonstrate the power of his love. I used to be afraid to take a step for (I confess that I still tremble legs) but you just have to have the willing heart. and Good will do his part.
Thanks for your message, makes me see that it is worth hearing the call of God.

(Pdta: Sorry! my english isn´t good at all)

Bless from Peru =)

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Leon Petersen

4/11/2015 04:16:44 pm

Jon, with regard to your parting comment: "When we begin to live in that redemptive love, we too can stare Satan right in the eye and say, “I bet you wish you’d left me alone. Punk.”
1Peter2:10..... we cannot "speak evil of dignities" (KJV). Read on further verses as well. The letter speaks of false prophets, and their ignorance regarding their attitude against "dignities".
I would encourage you to study the Word, and as in 2Tim2:15 to "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth "

You need not publish this comment, it is only for your edification and encouragement.

KInd regards
Leon

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Emmanuel

4/27/2015 04:16:27 am

How do we download?????

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Meghan

8/19/2015 05:40:09 am

Thank you for everything, I really needed to hear this, though it may not get me fully there, it does help, I have struggled a lot with believing in myself and I still have trouble believing that I could ever be of any importance. But this helped at least some.